Shooting for Awareness

Shooting for Awareness

04.09.13 | By Preet Bilinski

Most people have heard of the NBA Hall of Famer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But not everyone is as familiar with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a once fatal disease, that he was diagnosed with in 2008. Since being diagnosed, Abdul-Jabbar has been a strong advocate for CML patients, encouraging them to understand their treatment milestones and actively talk to their physicians to ensure their disease is properly managed. Kareem has teamed up with Novartis and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to further raise awareness of CML. During half-time at this evening's Lakers game, Kareem will take center court for the first shot in the "CML Skyhook Challenge," starting the countdown clock to raise $38,387to match his NBA-leading life-time record of 38,387 points in 1,560 games. He will be joined by a group of fellow CML survivors, who will be invited to the game and to join the half-time festivities. The basketball legend will encourage fans at the game and at home to play the Skyhook Challenge via their mobile devices. By texting KAJ to 72645, participants will receive a series of questions about CML, Kareem's career and LLS. The game will also be available online at www.skyhookchallenge.com. Each correct answer is worth one point; players can answer more than one question. Once the Challenge registers 38,387 points, Novartis will donate $38,387 to LLS to support blood cancer research and patient services. The contest will take place until the total fundraising goal is reached. "Thanks to research, survival rates have doubled, tripled and even quadrupled for some blood cancers, but there is still critical unmet medical need, and more research is needed to advance therapies that save more lives," said LLS President and Chief Executive Officer John Walter. Stay tuned in the coming weeks to learn more about the exciting research being done for leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers in our upcoming medicines in development report.